AF-PAK-IND: US and Them

AF-PAK-IND: US and Them
Fatima Rizvi :
Taliban show signs of frustration while failing to stop Pakistan Army from advancing further into the strongholds of South Waziristan.
Over the weekend, militants took their most desperate shot at putting up a fight against Pakistan Army, quite obviously, on tenterhooks to alter the course of their imminent failures. Storming of the GHQ security barrier was widely considered an act of incredible absurdity.

On the other hand, bravery and courage on part of the officers and soldiers of Pakistan Army is beyond commendable. To free forty plus people held hostage by frenzied men in suicide vests, daring enough to plot a hijack on the General Headquarters Quarters of the Armed Forces is no child's play. Without a doubt Pakistan army is under immense psychological pressure. The militants are undergoing a strategy-relay between the use of vehicles laden with ammunition and/or using small arms and suicide devices for attacking precision targets, under the new leadership of Hakeemullah. The army has however reacted to all of their attacks swiftly. Some critics are of view that the GHQ security system was ill prepared. That is all rubbish. Even Pentagon cannot be protected against a hell-bent, camouflaged suicide squad with enough AMO to fight a protracted gun battle. Moreover "the group" was led by Aqeel, an Army's Medical Corps deserter who is thought to have known enough to harm enough. And yet the Army prevailed.

Panic in the militants' ranks can be sensed by how a key mastermind took part in a seemingly ridiculous plan that could not have achieved much save symbolism. Aqeel aka Dr. Usman the main architect of assault on Sri Lankan Cricket team in Lahore liberty chowk, as well as the key conspirer in the missile attack on General Musharraf's plane is not a simpleton. He is a planner, an expert, a trainer and handler of the youth that comprise such suicide squads. He must have known the attack on GHQ was risky at best; that this would not go very far and would most likely be his final act. Yet Aqeel, despite a fat dossier speaking of his evil genius, decided to perform some Hollywoodish adaption and, for the first time, became part of an outrageously ambitious suicide assault against the impossiblr. A "mastermind" of several past terrorist attacks (that also include killing of the Surgeon General of Pakistan, Lt-General Mushtag Baig), Aqeel's evil genius is obviously mottled by a do-or-die frustration; a consequential sentiment of a hopeless, tired belligerent. Which leads us to a safe supposition: the frenzied, "them", planners are certainly ready to bleed just to feel alive. They are ready to pay heavy costs for almost nothing – a nuisance value all for the drama to seek marginal psychological advantage.

In waning hopes of getting a breather from the ongoing military operation, the militants appear to resurface in form of an erratic spate of violence, seemingly, to avenge the blood of Baitullah Mehsud; to register a recovery from internal differences that arose after Baitullah's death and to prove that Hakeemulla Mehsud, like his predecessor, is no joke. If anything he is Baitullah reloaded. In order to alleviate themselves from moral and psychological backlog after the defeat in Malakand they are ready to give new depths to absurdity. Dashing back and forth the Durand line in vain effort to inflate the morale of coalition forces in east of Afghanistan, the Pak army in the west of Pakistan and the people inhabitting either sides of Durand. Other attacks in the preceding weeks: the World Food Programme bombing, the attack on Indian Consulate in Kandahar, the Peshawar blast, the GHQ misadventure, the Shangla episode and the recent attacks on FIA building, Elite Force building and Manawa training center in Lahore as well as the bomb blast in Kohat near Sadar Police Station, add to the psychological nuisance value and amount to no real gain. All of these assaults have been successfully neutralized by Pakistan Army who displayed utmost preparedness and efficiency. From this point in time it is easy to see that the militants are going into pieces under Pakistan's resolve wielding out from the unity of it's the People, their Government and their Army over the issue of terrorism. The real strength of Pakistan is the unity of all citizens in entirity, over completely exterminating terrorism from the country.

Increased militant strikes in the east of Afghanistan can be a consequence of an extended brainstorming in Washington over a way forward in Afghanistan that has bought militants time and space to make their presence felt.

Amidst all this Pakistan's budding democracy will have to pass a crucial acid-test by imparting a holistically acceptable stance on behalf of the country over the K-L Bill US Congressmen. The country needs to concentrate on civil-military conduciveness and speak from the position of strength at this point in time. Only national solidarity and harmonious civil-military relations will help Pakistan in casting a strong, responsible, dignified and positive aura of itself before the world.

As of now, two of the recent developments would let in some daylight on this region. Firstly, the political leadership of Pakistan has given a go ahead to Pakistan Army for launching the military campaign inside South Waziristan. This would expedite the process of reaching out the 'jugular vein' of the militancy in the region. Secondly, US finally has decided to send 13,000 troops into Afghanistan. This would pressure Taliban from the other side. It can be hoped that a coordinated assault on the militants, similar to Operation Rah-e-Rast + Operation Khanjar would effectively settle the problem and will hopefully tone down the spiraling urban violence reminiscent of the pre-Operation Rah-e-Rast scenario. It is however felt that militants of South Punjab need to be given perpetual resistance simultaneously in order to keep the same from spiraling out of control in the urban centers.

Beijing has offered Counter-Terrorism System to Pakistan as its contribution in curbing terrorism effectively. It has been recently reported that the two countries have decided to boost cooperation in the defence, security and anti-terrorism. This would further reinforce Pakistan's defence capability against the militants. This week Former US President Bill Clinton has strongly advised India to make sincere efforts at clearing out differences with Pakistan. Saudi Arabia has also reportedly urged US to convince India over solving the Kashmir Issue in order to ease tensions in the reigon. If India heeds the advice specially over the Kashmir issue, it would be taking a major step towards de-tangling South Asia from a strenuous and continuously unproductive nitpicking and allow it the much needed nerve and space to concentrate on serious issues of common concern such as poverty, food insecurity, water shortage, environment, energy and economy. Some healthy signs coming from the Lok Sabha can already be noticed from the immediate and sustained reaction from India upon Pakistan's raising Kashmir issue at the UN.

In India Assembly elections are in process. Last week in Arunachal Pradesh reports revealed a high percentage of contestants being highly corrupt millionaires having criminal background of which a considerable ratio were school drop outs. According to figures compiled by the National Election Watch (NEW) and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) from affidavits filed by the contesting candidates, 63 candidates are millionaires. Money plays an important role in any election in Arunachal Pradesh with political parties known to host community feasting during the polls to woo voters.

Last week Director General Police Prateep Singh accused ISI of reviving terrorism in Punjab. In the recent attack on Indian embassy in Kandahar, Indian foreign office and Afghanistan instantly blamed Pakistan's intelligence agencies although responsibility of the attack was soon claimed by the Taliban. The allegations groundless as they were, vexed ISI needlessly under the current circumstances. As a region undergoing a crucial phase the least we can do is act responsibly and refrain from the futile exercise of cheap verbal joustling. A good example can be sought from Pakistan's conduct during the GHQ operation. The role of Pakistani media and authorities needs mention in this context as Pakistan clearly refrained from indulging in lowly blame games and was quick to discount the hand of any of its neighbor's intelligence agency, a practice that is, by far, becoming the most favorite footless sport in the region.

On the other hand International Media has also expressed serious concerns over India's inclination to conduct nuclear tests. In a New York Time editorial this week, Indian scientists were sternly warned against carrying out the tests as they would adversely affect the spirit of nuclear non-proliferation – an agenda Obama administration is pursuing with all sincerity. The editorial urged United States to make clear to India that it has more to gain by focusing on economic growth and expanding global and regional cooperation than on developing more nuclear weapons. And it should leave no doubt about how much India and the rest of the world have to lose if New Delhi makes the wrong choice.